This Chicken Limone is made with chicken breasts, oil, lemon, flour, butter, parsley, and cooked to perfection.
This is the easiest way to make chicken less boring is by breading, adding lots of lemon, butter, and pepper to make a mouthwatering sauce. This one-skillet dinner comes together in minutes and it is so delicious to enjoy during those summer months. You could even top this with parmesan cheese for a nice finish.
If you love this recipe, feel free to try my Baked Lemon Chicken and Potatoes Recipe or my Chicken in Italian Dressing.
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What is Chicken Limone?
Chicken Limone is a classic Italian-American dish that features tender chicken breasts coated in a flavorful lemon-butter sauce. The dish is typically served with pasta or vegetables, and the lemon sauce is bright and tangy, with a creamy and buttery texture. The sauce is made by combining chicken broth, lemon juice, white wine, butter, and garlic, and is thickened with a roux or cornstarch. The chicken breasts are seasoned with salt, pepper, and flour, and then cooked in a pan until golden brown and crispy. The lemon-butter sauce is then poured over the chicken, creating a delicious and satisfying meal that is perfect for any occasion.
Why you will love Chicken Limone
- Flavorful: The lemon-butter sauce in Chicken Limone is tangy, creamy, and rich, and it perfectly complements the tender and juicy chicken breasts.
- Easy to make: Chicken Limone is a relatively easy dish to make, and it can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
- Versatile: Chicken Limone can be served with a variety of sides, such as pasta, rice, or vegetables, making it a versatile meal that can be customized to suit your tastes.
- Elegant: Chicken Limone is a classic Italian-American dish that is both delicious and elegant, making it the perfect meal for a special occasion or dinner party.
- Healthy: Chicken Limone is a relatively healthy meal, as it is low in carbs and packed with protein. It can also be customized to be gluten-free or dairy-free, depending on your dietary preferences.
Chicken Limone Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
- Chicken breast
- Olive oil
- Lemons
- Flour (or almond flour for keto)
- Butter
- Parsley
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Chicken Limone Recipe
Rub chicken with olive oil, lemon zest, salt and pepper. In a shallow bowl, add flour. Dip the chicken in the oil mixture, then dredge the chicken on both sides. On a large pan on medium high, place olive oil and wait for it to shimmer. Add the chicken and sear the chicken until golden, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove the chicken.
Reduce heat to medium and place the butter and the sliced lemon into the pan, until caramelized, about 1 minute on each side. Reduce the heat to medium low and now add the juice of the lemon juice and parsley. Let the liquid simmer for about 3 minutes, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom with a wooden spoon.
Return the chicken back into the pot. Depending on the thickness of the chicken, simmer until the chicken is coked through, about another 6-12 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Serve the chicken with the lemon sliced on the top!
Hint: Make sure to brown the chicken on high heat just to sear it.
What to serve with Chicken Limone?
Chicken Limone is a delicious Italian dish that features chicken breasts cooked in a creamy lemon sauce.
- Pasta: Serve the chicken Limone over a bed of pasta, such as linguine or fettuccine. The pasta will help soak up the delicious lemon sauce and provide a filling carbohydrate.
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, or green beans, would be a delicious side dish that complements the lightness of the chicken and the tangy flavor of the lemon sauce.
- Salad: A simple side salad with a lemon vinaigrette would be a light and refreshing complement to the rich chicken Limone. Try using mixed greens, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes.
- Bread: A slice of crusty bread would be perfect for soaking up any remaining sauce on the plate.
- Rice: If you prefer to have a side of rice, try making lemon rice. You can cook the rice in chicken broth with lemon zest and a bit of lemon juice, then stir in some fresh herbs like parsley or chives for added flavor.
Substitutions
- Chicken: I used chicken breast for this although you could use boneless chicken thighs.
- Flour: I used all-purpose flour. You could use almond flour if keto. The flour helps make the chicken crispy.
- Olive oil: I used good quality extra virgin olive oil.
- Butter: I used salted butter but you could use ghee or unsalted butter and salt yourself.
- Lemons: For best taste, use real lemons and not store bought lemon juice. I sliced the lemons and caramelized them on each side.
Chicken Limone Recipe Variations
- Creamy Chicken Limone: Add some heavy cream or crème fraîche to the lemon-butter sauce to make it creamier and richer.
- Grilled Chicken Limone: Instead of pan-frying the chicken breasts, grill them on a barbecue or stovetop grill pan to add some smoky flavor to the dish.
- Spicy Chicken Limone: Add some red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeños to the lemon-butter sauce to give it a spicy kick.
- Mushroom Chicken Limone: Saute some mushrooms with garlic and onions and add them to the lemon-butter sauce to add some earthy and savory flavors to the dish.
- Parmesan Chicken Limone: After pan-frying the chicken breasts, sprinkle them with some grated Parmesan cheese and broil them for a few minutes to create a crispy and cheesy crust.
Check out these Lemon Garlic Drumsticks.
Equipment
To make chicken limone, you will need the following equipment:
- Large skillet: A large skillet or frying pan is essential for cooking the chicken breasts and making the lemon-butter sauce.
- Tongs: Tongs are useful for flipping the chicken breasts while they cook and for removing them from the skillet when they are done.
- Meat mallet: A meat mallet is useful for pounding the chicken breasts to an even thickness, which will help them cook more evenly.
- Cutting board: A cutting board is useful for pounding the chicken breasts and for slicing the lemon and parsley.
- Knife: A sharp knife is essential for slicing the chicken breasts and lemon, as well as chopping the parsley.
- Measuring cups and spoons: Measuring cups and spoons are useful for measuring the ingredients for the lemon-butter sauce.
- Garlic press (optional): If you prefer minced garlic in the lemon-butter sauce, a garlic press is a useful tool to have.
- Zester or grater: A zester or grater is useful for grating the lemon zest, which adds extra lemony flavor to the dish.
How to store Chicken Limone
To store Chicken Limone properly, follow these steps:
- Let it cool: Let the cooked chicken cool to room temperature for about 30 minutes before storing it.
- Divide into portions: Divide the chicken into portions if you plan to store it for later use. This will make it easier to reheat the chicken without having to heat the entire batch.
- Store in airtight containers: Place the chicken in airtight containers or resealable bags. You can store the chicken with or without the lemon-butter sauce. If you plan to store the chicken with the sauce, make sure to transfer the sauce to a separate container before storing.
- Refrigerate: Place the chicken in the refrigerator and store it for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: If you want to store the chicken for longer, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Make sure to label the container or bag with the date so that you can keep track of how long it has been stored.
Chicken Limone Recipe Top tips
- Pound the chicken breasts evenly: Use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness. This will ensure that they cook evenly and prevent them from drying out.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest: Fresh lemon juice and zest will give your Chicken Limone a bright and tangy flavor. Avoid using bottled lemon juice, as it often has a less vibrant flavor.
- Don't overcook the chicken: Overcooked chicken can become tough and dry. Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) and remove it from the heat as soon as it's done.
- Use unsalted butter: Using unsalted butter allows you to control the amount of salt in the dish. If you use salted butter, you may end up with a dish that is too salty.
- Garnish with fresh parsley: Chopped fresh parsley adds a pop of color and freshness to the dish. Sprinkle it on top of the chicken before serving.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste: Taste the lemon-butter sauce before pouring it over the chicken and adjust the seasoning to your liking. If you prefer a stronger lemon flavor, add more lemon juice or zest.
Chicken Limone Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This Chicken Limone is made with chicken breasts, oil, lemon, flour, butter, parsley, and cooked to perfection.
Ingredients
- 3 whole chicken breasts, sliced lengthwise
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- ½ lemon, sliced
- ½ cup of flour
- 3 tablespoons of butter
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Rub chicken with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, lemon zest, salt and pepper. In a shallow bowl, add flour. Dip the chicken in the oil mixture, then dredge the chicken on both sides.
- On a large pan on medium high, place olive oil and wait for it to shimmer. Add the chicken and sear the chicken until golden, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove the chicken.
- Reduce heat to medium and place the butter and the sliced lemon into the pan, until caramelized, about 1 minute on each side.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and now add the juice of the lemon juice and parsley. Let the liquid simmer for about 3 minutes, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom with a wooden spoon.
- Return the chicken back into the pot. Depending on the thickness of the chicken, simmer until the chicken is coked through, about another 6-12 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve the chicken with the lemon sliced on the top!
Notes
- Pound the chicken breasts evenly: Use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness. This will ensure that they cook evenly and prevent them from drying out.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest: Fresh lemon juice and zest will give your Chicken Limone a bright and tangy flavor. Avoid using bottled lemon juice, as it often has a less vibrant flavor.
- Don't overcook the chicken: Overcooked chicken can become tough and dry. Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) and remove it from the heat as soon as it's done.
- Use unsalted butter: Using unsalted butter allows you to control the amount of salt in the dish. If you use salted butter, you may end up with a dish that is too salty.
- Garnish with fresh parsley: Chopped fresh parsley adds a pop of color and freshness to the dish. Sprinkle it on top of the chicken before serving.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste: Taste the lemon-butter sauce before pouring it over the chicken and adjust the seasoning to your liking. If you prefer a stronger lemon flavor, add more lemon juice or zest.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 283.5
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 457.0 mg
- Fat: 5.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.1 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 54.7 g
- Cholesterol: 136.9 mg
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
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